Undertaking a DSEAR Assessment offers numerous benefits. Firstly, it identifies the risks associated with your workplace, including substances and processes, enabling appropriate action to be taken.

Secondly, compliance with the DSEAR regulations demonstrates that your business is effectively managing risk and adhering to safe management systems and arrangements. When working with our clients, we prioritise identifying the most effective control measures and solutions to achieve compliance.

We also ensure that we follow the hierarchy of control and consider the most cost-effective options.

The DSEAR Risk Assessment encompasses a comprehensive evaluation conducted by a specialist consultant during a 1-2-day site visit. The consultant thoroughly examines all management arrangements and conducts a site-wide inspection, focusing on the storage, handling, and usage of dangerous substances to gain a comprehensive understanding of activities and the risk profile.

The assessment involves creating a register of substances, reviewing material safety documentation, and analysing any available explosion data, leveraging past experience with similar projects. The consultant then examines potential ignition sources, release rates, concentrations, temperatures, ventilation, and other control measures to determine the risk profile and develop the risk assessment and Hazardous Area Classification.

Documentation and arrangements related to fire risk management, training, electrical inspection, and testing are reviewed, and recommendations are provided regarding the most effective options to achieve compliance and manage risk.

Our approach is centred around our main goal of assisting the client. We ensure that we represent the client’s interests and avoid adding unnecessary complexity to their existing workload.

To facilitate this, we employ a highly detailed yet easily understandable Risk Assessment template, which includes a descriptive and comprehensive action plan outlining the steps necessary to achieve compliance and acceptable risk levels.

Our Chartered consultants, with a deep understanding of your industry, lead all DSEAR projects. They conduct a thorough review encompassing the following aspects:

• Hazardous substances and materials
• Housekeeping and storage arrangements for dangerous substances
• Handling and usage of dangerous substances
• Additional processes and activities (such as pipework transfer and potential leak points)
• Emergency arrangements and procedures
• Inspection and maintenance arrangements
• Sources of ignition, hot surfaces, and smoking policies
• Electrical equipment ratings within zoned areas
• Hazardous Area Classification
• Interconnecting plant and equipment (e.g., rotary valves to bagging lines or shut valve louvers within LEV ducts)
• Existing and required control measures.
• Bund containment and spillage management
• Waste substance management and control
• Fire Risk Assessment, early detection systems, and firefighting arrangements
• Occupational health and hygiene arrangements
• Health and safety policies and procedures, contractor management, and lockout/tagout (LOTO)
• DSEAR training
• Lightning protection and earth connectivity
• Extraction and ventilation
• Planned preventive maintenance and inspection systems (e.g., thermal imaging or mechanical inspections)

Competency in conducting a DSEAR Assessment is crucial. According to the HSE’s DSEAR Approved Code of Practice (ACOP), the assessment must be carried out by someone deemed “competent.”

While the ACOP doesn’t explicitly define the required competency, a detailed understanding of the DSEAR regulations combined with extensive experience in high-risk sectors is highly advantageous.

With trained staff in DSEAR assessment and over 10 years of experience working in industries with explosive atmospheres, we have consistently satisfied the HSE with our competence in completing DSEAR Assessments for our clients.

By choosing our services, you not only receive a high-quality and seamlessly executed assessment, but also benefit from the confidence of being in capable and competent hands.

Similar to other risk assessments and inspections, the DSEAR Assessment should be regularly reviewed and updated.
The HSE generally recommends updating DSEAR every 3-5 years, depending on the risk levels of the operations. Ideally, a DSEAR Assessment should be completed as soon as potential explosive atmospheres are identified, preferably during the design stage. However, it often occurs after the relevant installations are already in place.

For facilities with high risks or significant quantities of substances, the DSEAR assessment may be reviewed as soon as six months after the initial assessment. Nevertheless, it is common to conduct a review one year after the assessment, and once all actions are closed and compliant, a 3–5-year interval becomes acceptable.

It’s important to note that if changes occur or new substances are introduced, a review will be triggered. However, for minor changes in line with the initial DSEAR Assessment, the cost of review is significantly reduced, obviating the need for a complete redo.

HAC stands for Hazardous Area Classification. This is the detailed calculations that consider all of the substance key information such as ventilation, evaporation rate, release rate, temperature etc to determine how big of a zone exists and how prevalent to determine a zone classification.

Zone 0 / 20 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of Powder / Dust / Fumes / Vapours or Gasses is present continuously or for long periods or frequently.

ATEX Category 1 Equipment
Zone 1 / 21 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of Powder / Dust / Fumes / Vapours or Gasses is likely to occur in normal operation occasionally.

ATEX Category 1 or 2 Equipment
Zone 2 / 22 – A place in which an explosive atmosphere consisting of a mixture with air of dangerous substances in the form of Powder / Dust / Fumes / Vapours or Gasses is not likely to occur in normal operation but, if it does occur, will persist for a short period only.

ATEX Category 1, 2 or 3 Equipment
Zone 2 NE (Negligible Extent) – Refers to an area where the presence of a potentially explosive atmosphere due to the release of flammable substances is expected to be infrequent, short-lived, and of low concentration.

An example of Zone 2 negligible extent is a storage room in a chemical manufacturing facility where small amounts of flammable substances like solvents or fuels are kept. While there is a possibility of occasional releases of flammable vapours during specific activities like transferring or decanting, the room is well-ventilated and equipped with safety measures to prevent leaks or spills. The quantities stored are kept low, maintaining a low concentration of flammable vapours.

Any potential explosive atmosphere is expected to be brief, usually resolved while addressing the cause of the release. Although the risk of an explosion is minimal, safety precautions like regular inspections, appropriate storage containers, and the use of intrinsically safe equipment are still implemented for mitigation.

HAC Diagrams and Drawings
Once the Hazardous areas are classified and articulated within calculations and descriptions, We then display this in 2 formats. Text to clearly explain the size, extent, and classification of the HAC zone and also secondly, we create a side or overhead plan diagram showing in visual format the extent of the zones.

Where detailed drawings are needed, we can also develop CAD Drawings with full detail as an additional project.
This is useful for training and communicating to staff and contractors.

DSEAR Conclusion
The Dangerous substance and Explosive atmosphere regulations identifies the legal requirements to ensure a safe workplace and to manage the risk from potential fires and explosions.

DSEAR assessments are a significant part of the risk assessment approach to identify hazards and implement appropriate control measures and arrangements.

DSEAR Assessments should be robust, cover all processes and substances and also be undertaken by someone with very good industry and DSEAR expertise.

The aim is to be compliant, have safe operations and to adopt pragmatic and cost-effective solutions.

Experts in DSEAR Risk Assessments with over a Decade of experience

Want to know more, or simply book our services?

Please contact our Lead consultant who will make all of the arrangements.

The DSEAR (Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations) provide criteria for identifying hazardous substances.

In simple terms, a substance is classified as dangerous if it is flammable (with a flashpoint below 60 degrees Celsius) or if it is stored at a temperature within 60 degrees of its flashpoint, such as heated oils.

The regulations also apply to substances with higher flashpoints that are stored under high pressure. For example, Glycol, a refrigerant substance, has a flashpoint of 100 to 110 degrees Celsius. However, if it is used under pressure exceeding 10barg and a leak occurs, the substance can atomise and create a spray, significantly increasing its flammability.

When determining if a substance is hazardous, it is important to consider both its flashpoint when suspended in air and the pressure it is contained under. Conducting a DSEAR risk assessment is the most effective way to assess these factors.

In some cases, a desktop exercise can be sufficient to determine whether a substance is classified as hazardous or not. Please feel free to contact us for more information if this approach is applicable.

As a general guideline based on industry standards, the following list includes commonly known substances and processes associated with the industry (although not exhaustive) that are considered hazardous:

• Oil and solvent-based paints and varnishes
• Flammable gases (e.g., liquid petroleum gas)
• Dust generated from sanding or machining (e.g., wood)
• Pressurised gases and cylinders
• Gas mains supply
• Substances corrosive to metal
• Spray booths
• Flammable paints and thinners
• Acetone and solvent cleaners
• Fuels such as kerosene, diesel, LPG, and petrol
• A1 jet fuels
• Strong acids (e.g., acetic acid >80%)
• Food powders and ingredients such as flour and sugar
• Alcohol production and distillation
• Welding gases
• Ammonia and some other refrigerant substances and refrigerant gases
• Biomass fuel dusts
• Anaerobic digestion process and gas
• Biogas production and management
• Chemical manufacturing, blending, and processing.
• Battery storage and charging (hydrogen)
• Hydrogen installations and R&D facilities
• Transport and logistics
• Wood and timber manufacturing and processing
• Power generation
• Combined heat and power (CHP)
• Coal mining and processing

Although the following list contains items that have the potential to explode, they either do not fall under the classification of a hazardous substance or are covered by other regulations, making a DSEAR assessment unnecessary:

• High voltage electricity supply
• Electrical cabinets
• Air pressure cylinders (compressed air)
• Non-flammable pressurised gas cylinders
• High-pressure water (pressure washers)

Note: While these items may serve as potential ignition sources in other DSEAR zones, they should be considered within the scope of assessment without requiring a specific DSEAR assessment.

The importance of conducting a DSEAR Risk Assessment arises from the need to comply with the relevant regulations and effectively manage the risk of fire and explosion associated with hazardous substances.

The DSEAR regulations outline the legal requirements for this assessment and set the initial objective for its completion. According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidelines within the DSEAR regulations, several expectations need to be met:

• Identification of hazardous substances present in the workplace and assessment of potential risks. • Implementation of appropriate control measures to either eliminate or reduce the risks to acceptable levels. 

• Establishment of emergency arrangements to mitigate the effects of any incidents involving hazardous substances. 

• Development and implementation of comprehensive policies and procedures to effectively respond to incidents and emergencies.

• Provision of suitable training and awareness programs for employees and contractors regarding hazardous substances, specific areas, and safety protocols associated with working in proximity to such substances.

• Implementation of appropriate identification measures for hazardous areas, along with effective management or elimination of ignition sources wherever possible. 

• Establishment of suitable inspection and maintenance systems to uphold best practices.